James Santa Maria is the founder and president of the Santa Maria Group. With over 25 years of professional experience, James is an expert in commercial real estate development, land use, public financing, and economic development. Early in his career, James served as deputy to Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan and was chief of staff to two Los Angeles City councilmembers; in his capacity, James served as lead deputy in charge of the Housing and Economic Development Committee and spent four years as the deputy in charge of the City of Los Angeles’ $8.7 Billion budget. The Santa Maria Group has earned the distinction of being one of the leading government and public relations firms in California. Its client list includes companies in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
In addition to serving as vice chair of the Pacific Community Fund Board of Directors, James’ extensive commitments to community service include serving as president of the Asian American Victory Political Action Committee and as a member of the board of directors at the Korean American Coalition and Glendale Adventist Hospital Foundation. James is a lifelong resident of Los Angeles, where he graduated from Loyola High School and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Alex Anderson serves as Secretary of the Pacific Community Fund Board of Directors, a position he has held since 2022. Mr. Anderson has over 25 years of investment analysis and business operations experience. He currently advises early stage growth companies on capital development, management systems, and growth strategies. Mr. Anderson also provides financial advisory services on initiating, structing, monitoring, and exiting private debt and equity transactions. Throughout his career, he has negotiated over $270 million in business transactions.
Mr. Anderson is co-founder of the Black Economic Council (BEC), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting self-sufficiency and economic empowerment in the African American community. He is also founder of African Americans for Economic Justice (AAEJ), which promotes greater effectiveness of Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) investments and commitments by the banking industry. In addition, Mr. Anderson volunteers with various community groups, which include Wall Street Wizards, PG&E Community Advisory Board, The Mentoring Center, Khadafy Foundation, and The Change Company.
Mr. Anderson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Howard University and a Master of Business Administration from San Francisco State University.
Jason A. Hobson has served as a member of the Pacific Community Fund Board of Directors since 2011. Mr. Hobson is an experienced attorney with over $3 Billion in closed transactions across the United States and cofounder of a venture firm with over 100+ investments in start-ups and emerging companies. Mr. Hobson brings both legal and business acumen to Pacific Community Fund, helping guide its CDFI and community development activities.
Mr. Hobson is the founding partner of Hobson Bernardino + Davis LLP, previously the in-house lawyer for a national tax credit syndication firm, and a senior attorney with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, where he worked on complex affordable housing transactions involving tax credits, tax-exempt bonds, and complex regulatory requirements throughout the United States. Mr. Hobson’s venture firm has invested in emerging companies in fintech, wellness, and emerging industries such as blockchain and artificial intelligence.
Mr. Hobson has previously advised the California Public Utilities Commission as a member of the Low-Income Oversight Board, which helps ensure the success of the public-private partnership programs for low-income residents of California. Mr. Hobson earned a Juris Doctorate degree from University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly University of California Hastings College of Law), successfully completed the UCLA Anderson Management Development for Entrepreneurs program, and attended Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan as part of his undergraduate studies. Mr. Hobson was born and raised in Los Angeles, and is a 5-Time finisher of the Ironman Triathlon and Jedi Knight.
James Bryant is a long-time home and business owner in the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood of San Francisco. Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, James grew up excelling in football and basketball. At 21, he got on a bus and moved to San Francisco seeking better opportunities. While working at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority as a police officer, James was elected as a Union Steward, then Chief Steward. James would go on to have a 22-year career as a labor leader, which included being elected Vice President of SEIU 790.
In 2009, James started JBR Partners, Inc., a Community Affairs company specializing in public utility and construction projects. In addition, James utilizes his skills and knowledge by providing Construction Management Consulting and Construction Partnering Facilitation on several multi-billion-dollar infrastructure projects in the San Francisco Bay Area.
James and his wife, Josefina Bryant, of 47 years have three children, all of whom are also professionals and active in the community, and six grandchildren.
Pacific Community Fund is a trademark of National Asian American Coalition
Chair Oriel earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts from Sain Paul University of Manila. She also completed a fellowship in the Transforming Ethnic News Organizations for the Digital Now program at the University of Southern California Annenberg School of Communication and the Management Development for Entrepreneurs (MDE) program at the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
In addition to her professional and community commitments, Chair Oriel is most proud of her role as mother to her three adult daughters, Christina, Carina, and Catherine.